House Democratic Whip Hoyer Intends to Ask Republicans If They Really Know What Time It Is

For Immediate Release:

June 16, 2003

Contact Info:

Jonathan Allen

CQ Today

On Monday, House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland unveiled for reporters the latest prop Democrats will try to use to point out what they regard as shortcomings of House Republicans.

The Working Families Tax Fairness Clock displays on the screen of Hoyer's laptop computer the elapsed time since passage June 12 of an $82 billion extension of the child tax credit (HR 1308).

Democrats opposed the House GOP version of the bill, favoring a $10 billion Senate-passed version. During debate on the measure, Gene Taylor of Mississippi got in trouble for using House pages to make a point about the growing federal debt.

And, just as Taylor was barred from using people as props, C-SPAN viewers aren't likely to see Hoyer's computer — with its running clock — on the House floor.

Like most electronic devices, it would be considered contraband in the chamber. Nonetheless, Hoyer said he plans to bring attention to the clock, either at press conferences or by mentioning it on the floor, spokeswoman Stacey Farnen said.